On my radar: Nikki Amuka-Bird’s cultural highlights
The actor on a double dose of Greek tragedy, the real-life drama of basketball, and a perfect day in Antigua
Axel Scheffler: ‘To work for children, you must have optimism’
The Gruffalo illustrator, 65, on dealing with his natural pessimism, the lifelong joy of drawing and why he always tells people not to give up on their dreams
Onwards and upwards: music, film, art and more to inspire change
Sometimes life becomes a little stale. From upbeat pop to teenage last hurrahs, our critics have the moodboard for forging a fresh path
Bah, humbug: anti-Christmas treats for the tinseled-out
From a beach comedy movie to people-free abstract art, our critics offer cultural escapes for those who’ve already had enough festive spirit
Botticelli’s Secret by Joseph Luzzi review – a great mystery in the picture
Why did Botticelli endure centuries of obscurity? And what happened to those Dante illustrations? A fresh account of the Renaissance explores the answer
Iced gems: art, books, music and more to keep the home fires burning this winter
From storm-tossed seascapes to skating on the Thames, our cultural critics select wintry wonders for the season’s dark days
Kindred spirits: books, music, art and more about seeing family
From an unconventional depiction of maternal holiness to weird, festive murder-thrillers, our critics select culture for coping with the clan
Hilma af Klint: A Biography by Julia Voss review – portrait of the painter as a mystic
The Swedish abstract artist who conversed with the dead is described as a woman years ahead of her time in this scholarly, sympathetic study
A bit of rough: books, music, art and more to help with a hangover
You’ve had a big one, but what goes up must come down. From gentle piano to breezy laughs, our critics offer salves for sore heads
The arts Christmas gift guide 2022: Dolly Parton dog wigs, Strictly tea towels, Bauhaus teapots and much more
From 007 socks to the Dark Side of the Spoon cookbook, from David Shrigley’s foot to AC/DC Monopoly, here are 40 perfect present ideas for culture-lovers everywhere
Paint him out: Katy Hessel’s retelling of art history is Waterstones book of the year
Hessel’s ‘beautifully written corrective’ The Story of Art Without Men is awarded alongside author of the year winner Bonnie Garmus for her book Lessons in Chemistry
Retail therapy: film, art, books and more for the Christmas shopping season
From the aristocratic boutiques of 18th-century Paris to a zombified consumerist dystopia, our culture critics help you shop till you drop
The big picture: Thomas Rousset’s surreal image of French rural life
The photographer’s curious tableau depicts a scene in his home village of Prabért near Grenoble
A Statue of One’s Own: the new Virginia Woolf sculpture that’s challenging stereotypes
Passersby are encouraged to take a selfie with the monument that artist Laury Dizengremel hopes will inspire women and girls
Pitch perfect: books, music, art and more about football
With the Qatar World Cup imminent, our critics offer up cultural highlights – from a damning tale of homophobia to David Peace’s Damned Utd – about the ‘beautiful game’